Is this just a Southern Baptist Thing?

[Sword-In-Hand]

Can anyone just throw up four walls, a ceiling, buy some hymnals, pews and a pulpit and be called a church or must there be heritage involved? I learned that some SBC organizations won't recognize a church if it doesn't have heritage, i.e. a mother church and so on. Are other Baptist churches or denominations under this rule as well?

[FreeinChrist]

Do you have a specific example that you are referring to?


I would say that if a church wanted to refer to themselves as Southern Baptists - they either have to be planted (started) by a Southern Baptists or apply to the Southern Baptist Convention as a member of the convention.

[JMandrell]

I think as long as a new church is based on the guidelines of the Baptist's beliefs then it can call itself a baptist church. But in order to be recognized by the governing body of the baptist association, I'm sure there is some type of documentation to fill out. I say this because my brother is in the process of starting a new church in VA. the preacher was a youth minister at another church but developed a plan to reach youth in a different manner than his home church, so he decided to start a church of his own. This church is still considered baptist.

[eldermike]

The local SB associations work with all kinds of churches. Many new churches that start out as "community" churches with SB leanings. The convention is not a ruling authority over churches. it's actually missions/resource based and sets up local associations to help in areas of resources for local churches.

To be Southern Baptists there is no test.

[rural_preacher]

A church that contributes to the SBC Cooperative Program (http://www.cpmissions.net/2003/what%20is%20cp.asp)(CP) is consider to be a member of the SBC.


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[Andyman_1970]

I've kind of been wondering about this as my best friend and I have been tossing around the idea of starting a church.

[Snow Angel]

If That Is your calling,Then go for it:God Bless:
:groupray: